NBN Sees Gigabit HFC as ‘Game Changer’

The National Broadcasting Network lauds the latest version of the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS 3.1) as a game changer in the hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) technology paving the way for the next generation of TV broadcast and high speed Internet access.

Developed by CableLabs, DOCSIS 3.1 is 40 percent faster than the previous version and is the result of the collaborative work of a large consortium of cable industry stakeholders. It can transmit up to 50 percent more data over the same spectrum and significantly increase the existing HFC network capacity.

DOCSIS 3.1 can support ultrafast speeds of 10 gigabits per second download and 1 gigabit per second upload. It has energy management features that can help reduce energy usage, as well as minimise latency, packet delay, and network throughput. This new tech solution proves the viability of a full duplex communication, which increases upstream data capacity enabling symmetric multi-gigabit broadband data services for consumers and businesses.

NBN Chief Technology Officer Dennis Steiger announced that “the arrival of the Full Duplex DOCSIS 3.1 is extremely exciting news for the NBN and a real game-changing moment in the ultrafast broadband market.”

Steiger commented that “previously it was only possible to deliver multi-gigabit symmetrical broadband if you deployed an FttP network, but HFC is now right up there in terms of being able to deliver these kinds of speeds. We now have the pathway to deliver these ultrafast symmetrical speeds to our HFC users, both very cost effectively and far more conveniently than we could if we had to deliver fibre all the way to their homes.”

“We will be working closely with CableLabs to track the development of this technology and are excited about the potential that this offers for the 4 million premises that will receive their NBN services via our HFC network,” Steiger added.

The NBN further reports that DOCSIS 3.1 will work across the HFC networks of both Telstra and Optus. Based on the Q&A on DOCSIS 3.1 published on the website of Australian Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, this technology is forthcoming to the NBN HFC network in 2017.

Turnbull expressed, “We plan to run DOCSIS 3.1 trials in 2016 and to have DOCSIS 3.1 services commercially available in 2017… Bringing DOCSIS 3.1 on board is the cherry on the cake that will give us even more capacity and really make sure that there is plenty of bandwidth for everyone on the network to have a great experience.”

The HFC network will be launched by June 2016 and is expected to be completed along with the rest of the NBN by 2020. If you care about the speed of your network, NBN Cable HFC offers you great deals that suit your Internet connection needs.

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